Outboard motor propeller immobilizer tool

Abstract

A handle is integral with a flange at one end. The flange is integral with a downwardly depending skirt having three slots for engagement with three corresponding radial struts in a propeller hub. A bore in the center of the flange permits entry of a socket portion of a wrench to engage a nut holding the propeller on a shaft within the hub. By turning the wrench counterclockwise and holding the handle on the immobilizer tool, the nut is removed from the shaft.

1 . A propeller immobilizer tool comprising: 
 (a) an extended handle integral with a flange, the flange having a central bore for receipt of a wrench component;    (b) a skirt integral with a bottom surface of the flange, the skirt downwardly depending from the flange; and    (c) three spaced apart vertical slots in the skirt.    
   
   
       2 . The propeller immobilizer tool according to  claim 1  wherein at least three spaced apart vertical slots respectively engage three radial struts in a hub of the propeller.  
   
   
       3 . The propeller immobilizer tool according to  claim 1  wherein the flange is at one end of the handle.  
   
   
       4 . The propeller immobilizer tool according to  claim 1  wherein the central bore is annular in shape.  
   
   
       5 . The propeller immobilizer tool according to  claim 1  wherein the slots in the skirt begin at an end of the skirt distal from the flange and extend part ways up an outer wall of the skirt towards the flange.  
   
   
       6 . The propeller immobilizer tool according to  claim 1  wherein the wrench component received by the central bore is a socket having an end profile contiguous with a nut holding the propeller in place on a shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The propeller immobilizer tool according to  claim 2  wherein the flange has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the hub.  
   
   
       8 . A method for removing a propeller from an outboard engine shaft, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a propeller immobilizer tool, the tool having an extended handle integral with a flange, the flange having a central bore, and a skirt depending downwardly from the flange, the skirt having three spaced apart vertical slots;    (b) inserting the skirt in a hub of the propeller, the hub having three radial struts;    (c) sliding the skirt downwardly in the hub so that the three slots slide over the three radial struts;    (d) inserting a socket portion of a wrench into the central bore and pushing the socket portion downwardly to engage a nut on a shaft of the propeller;    (e) turning the socket wrench counterclockwise while holding the handle of the immobilizer tool to remove the nut from the shaft, and (f) pulling the propeller outwardly to remove the propeller from the shaft.